đŸ”— Share this article What is MND and Are Athletes More Likely to Be Diagnosed? MND affects nerve cells located in the brain and spinal cord, which tell your muscle tissue what to do. This leads them to lose strength and stiffen gradually and usually affects your walking, speak, eat and breathe. This is a quite uncommon condition that is most common in people above age fifty, but adults of any age can be affected. A person's lifetime risk of developing MND is 1 out of 300. About 5,000 adults in the UK are living with the disease at any given moment. Researchers are uncertain what causes MND, but it is likely to be a combination of the genetic material - or biological traits - you inherit from your parents when you are delivered, and additional environmental influences. For up to 10% of individuals with MND, particular genetic factors are far more significant. There is usually a family history of the illness in these cases. Identifying the Early Symptoms of the Condition? MND impacts each person uniquely. Not all individuals has the same symptoms, or experiences them in the same order. The condition can progress at varying rates too. Some of the most frequent indicators are: loss of muscle strength and muscle spasms stiff joints problems with your speech complications involving swallowing, consuming food and drinking reduced cough reflex Is There a Cure? No cure, but there is hope stemming from therapies targeted at various types of MND. MND is not a single illness - it is actually multiple that culminate in the death of nerve cells. A new drug called tofersen works in just 2% of patients, however it has been demonstrated to decelerate - and in some cases even reverse - a portion of the symptoms of MND. It has been referred to as "truly remarkable" and a "real moment of hope" for the whole disease. Although the medication has recently received approval in the EU, it is not yet available in the UK. There is only one drug currently licensed for the management of MND in the UK and approved by the NHS. Riluzole could decelerate the progression of the condition and prolong life by a few months, but it does not reverse damage. Determining Survival Rate for MND? Some people can survive for decades with MND, such as renowned scientist Stephen Hawking, who was identified at the age of 22 and lived to 76. But for the majority, the disease advances rapidly and life expectancy is only several years. According to the non-profit MND Association, the disease claims the lives of a one-third of people within a year and more than half within two years of diagnosis. As the nerve cells stop working, swallowing and respiration become more challenging and numerous individuals need feeding tubes or breathing apparatus to help them remain living. Are Athletes More Likely to Be Diagnosed? The precise reason has not yet been found, but elite athletes seem disproportionately affected by MND. Two studies from 2005 and 2009 indicated that soccer players have an increased risk of developing MND. Research from 2022 by the Glasgow University involving four hundred former Scotland rugby union players concluded they had an increased risk of acquiring the disease. Researchers additionally discovered that rugby athletes who have suffered repeated head injuries have physiological variations that may make them more prone to developing MND. The MND Association recognizes there is a "correlation" between collision sports and MND. It noted that while the athletes studied were more likely to acquire MND, it did not prove the athletic activities directly led to the condition. The charity also stresses that "reported MND instances in these studies is remains quite small, and so determining there is a definite increased risk could be misinterpreted if this is merely a cluster due to random chance". Multiple high-profile athletes have been diagnosed with the disease in the past few years. This encompasses ex- rugby internationals, footballers, and cricket athletes. Across the Atlantic, MLB athlete Lou Gehrig died from the condition aged 39.